Even though the consequences were death, the king-men
refused to join Moroni(1)’s army. They
chose to support Amalickiah by fighting with the land.
17 And it came to pass that Moroni commanded that his army
should go against those king–men, to pull down their pride and their nobility
and level them with the earth, or they should take up arms and support
the cause of liberty. 18 And it came to pass
that the armies did march forth against them; and they did pull down their
pride and their nobility, insomuch that as they did lift their weapons of war
to fight against the men of Moroni they were hewn down and leveled to the
earth.
19 And it came to pass that there were four thousand of those
dissenters who were hewn down by the sword; and those of their leaders who were
not slain in battle were taken and cast into prison, for there was no
time for their trials at this period. 20 And the
remainder of those dissenters, rather than be smitten down to the earth by the
sword, yielded to the standard of liberty, and were compelled to hoist
the title of liberty upon their towers, and in their cities, and to take up
arms in defence of their country.
21 And thus Moroni put an end to those king–men, that
there were not any known by the appellation of king–men; and thus he
put an end to the stubbornness and the pride of those people who professed the
blood of nobility; but they were brought down to humble themselves
like unto their brethren, and to fight valiantly for their freedom from
bondage.
Alma 51:17 – 21 (Emphasis mine)
Moroni(1) began to “go against those king-men.” They were full of pride because of their
nobility. His goal was “to pull down”
that pride. Once again, they were given
an opportunity to “take up arms and support the cause of liberty.”
The king-men were a segment of Nephite society. “Social segmentation is a well-documented
phenomenon in the Nephite record. The Amlicites were one large segment that
broke away from the majority and tried to replace the legitimate Nephite rulers
with their own man (see Alma 2). The king-men, led by ‘those of high birth’
(Alma 51:8), were perhaps ethnically related to the earlier Amlicites; they
attempted the same type of power seizure (see Alma 51) and apparently dwelt in
the same area (see Alma 51:17—20). “[1]
John Tvedtnes adds, “[i]f this means that they were settled in specific cities,
then they are more likely a tribal group than a political faction with
representation throughout the Nephite lands.”[2]
Instead, they fought back. They battle was apparently one-sided. Mormon tells us that no sooner did they “lift their weapons of war to fight … they were hewn down and leveled to the earth.”
Over four thousand dissenters died. The leaders who survived were “cast into prison, for there was not time for their trials at this period.” The remainder of the survivors “yielded to the standard of liberty.” They were forced to place the title of liberty and display it on their towers and in their cities. They also had to “take up arms in defence of their country.”
Moroni(1) was successful and putting down the king-men and
ending their dissent. They were force to
humble themselves and fight for their freedoms.
22 Behold, it came to pass that while Moroni was
thus breaking down the wars and contentions among his own people, and
subjecting them to peace and civilization, and making regulations to prepare
for war against the Lamanites, behold, the Lamanites had come into the land of
Moroni, which was in the borders by the seashore. 23 And it came
to pass that the Nephites were not sufficiently strong in the city of Moroni;
therefore Amalickiah did drive them, slaying many. And it came to pass that Amalickiah took
possession of the city, yea, possession of all their fortifications. 24
And those
who fled out of the city of Moroni came to the city of Nephihah; and
also the people of the city of Lehi gathered themselves together, and made
preparations and were ready to receive the Lamanites to battle.
Alma 51:22 – 24 (Emphasis mine)
While Moroni(1) was dealing with the king-men, Amalickiah
attached the city of Moroni. “[T]he
Nephites were not sufficiently strong in the city of Moroni,” therefore, they
were driven away and many were slain. He
was able to take possession of both the city and their fortifications.
The people fled to Nephihah and Lehi. They were received and “made preparations and
were ready to receive the Lamanites to battle.”
[1] Religious
Groups and Movements among the Nephites, 200–1 B.C., John L. Sorenson, Provo,
Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 20, 2012.
[2] Book
of Mormon Tribal Affiliation and Military Castes, John A. Tvedtnes, Provo,
Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 20, 2012.
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